Resolved Particular outlet not grounded?

I just got a CyberPower surge protector, and it is working fine, except for one thing. When I plug it into the outlet right by my laptop table, the power light is on, but the grounded light stays off. When I plug it into any other outlet, both lights immediately turn on.

What is the problem here? There is no problem with this outlet sending electricity to anything that is plugged in--I "m running my laptop strictly off of ac-dc, and the current is never interrupted. Out of the other plug in this outlet is a CFL bulb that says on hours at a time.

 

It sounds like that outlet is not properly wired. Every home should have a AC Outlet Tester. I recommend one with a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupt) indicator as it can be used to test bathroom and kitchen outlets too. These testers can be found for your type and voltage outlet, foreign or domestic, at most home improvement stores, or even the electrical department at Walmart.

If a problem is noted, you should have an electrician check it out.

 

Probably missing the 3rd wire which is the ground that goes to the bottom lug on the outlet plug.

 

Alright then. Next time I get an electriciant out to install a ceiling fan or something like that, I'll have this looked at.

My last question here: I can take it as a given that as long as the surge protector is not grounded, that there is no surge protection going on.... correct?

 

Yeah, ground/earth was my first thought though here in the UK it's the top lug on the outlet plug.

 

Correct.

 

OK, thanks. I'll see if I can't use an extension cord or something to connect it to another outlet.

 

You should still get one of those checkers - if nothing else, to check all the other outlets in your home. An extension cord is a temporary measure - and tripping hazard, and does not fix the bad outlet.

 

Usually they are all grounded. They don't just pick certain ones to ground.

 

Not sure you are following because that is not necessarily so.

First, older homes, including my home built in 1960, originally used two-wires (hot and neutral only) throughout with two prong outlets. No ground wire. That was common. Copper after WWII was expensive, and why many houses had aluminum wiring!

If a 3-prong outlet was later added, they were often left ungrounded, or maybe ground was achieved by running a 3rd wired to the nearest cold water pipe. Or it was "assumed" ground was achieved through the conduit.

Newer homes, and remodeled homes all use 3 wire outlets with all grounds running back to the main ground at the distribution panel.

And sure, they don't pick and choose which outlet to ground. But again, in older homes, some outlets can be grounded to Earth, some to pipes, and some not grounded at all - depending when and what was changed over the years.

But also, you are assuming the outlets were not mis-wired or worked loose, or even worn out over time and not making good contact.

And sadly too, there are many "home improvement" jobs done by amateurs that don't meet code, and probably without the necessary permits either so will never be properly inspected.

So while it never should happen, there are all sorts of reasons why one outlet may be bad.

 

I have seen them take the Neutral and use it as a Neutral and a ground. Not a good idea.

I know what you are saying, but usually if they are 3 pronged and not grounded, then none of them are grounded unless it is a remodel job that was done later. Only way to find out is to take the cover off and lk.

 

Had horrible lightning strikes very close by early this morning. Very eery considering the air temperature was only 45 degrees. A bolt must have triggered my GFCI that I installed some time back. Both of my computers are attached to that line, and the PCs are also protected by a UPS.

No electronics were damaged from what I can tell.

 

"Usually" yes, but that would be assuming and that assumption is one that could get someone killed.

Which then exposes you to potentially deadly voltages. So no - the only "safe" way is to use an outlet checker.

Lightning is caused by a "difference in potentials" between the electrical charges in the atmosphere, and between a "difference in potential" between the atmosphere and the Earth. Temperature really has little to do with it.

While thunderstorms in the dead of Winter are not common, they are not uncommon either.

 

I don't trust them. I worked for the phone company for about 37 years. When they came out with all the electronic phone systems, we had a church that was in my area and every time one of those Florida afternoon thunder showers came up, they would loose their equipment. We were required to check the outlets with an Outlet Checker before we plugged any of our equipment in. I had done this when I put the equipment in and it showed GOOD. I took the COVER/FACEPLATE off and that is as far as I had to look (which is better than one of those outlet checkers). The neutral was strapped to the ground. 99% of them are easy to see and you don't have to take the plug out. I refused to plug the equipment back in till they got it fixed. They called one of their members and he ran another single wire back to the breaker box.

 

One exception does not make the rule. Clearly, you had a bad checker as no working checker would have reported that outlet as good.

Unless you are a qualified electrician, you don't need to be removing faceplates. Plus, simply removing a faceplate does not ensure you can actually see if properly wired. Most outlets, perhaps, but not all.

 

Perhaps I didn't have a bad checker. They were tested monthly just like our other safety equipment. If they failed, we were give a new what ever it was and the old was repaired if it was feasible.

 

If the outlet was improperly wired and your checker said it was good, you had a bad checker! I don't see where "perhaps" plays into this.

 

Brought on by colliding weather fronts?

Certain parts of the country get more lightning than others with Florida being number one on many lists. I've learned the hard way that it pays to have proper surge protection.

 

Well, I guess you could call Bell Labs and discuss the point with them.

 

Often, but not necessarily. You don't need a front to generate static.

I see no need to waste my time. 40+ years as a certified master electronics technician, plus plain old common sense tells me if an outlet is clearly (easily verified by visible inspection - as you suggested) mis-wired and a outlet checker reports the outlet good, then the checker is bad.

Or - you had the wrong checker for the job.